F1: Russell on pole as Mercedes dominates Australian GP qualifying

Saturday 07 March 2026 - 13:45

Mercedes confirmed its dominance in the 2026 Formula 1 season on Saturday during qualifying for the Australian Grand Prix at Albert Park, Melbourne, with George Russell securing pole position ahead of his teammate Kimi Antonelli. Russell, comfortable on the semi-urban circuit, edged Antonelli by 0.293 seconds, while the third-place driver, Isack Hadjar from Red Bull, was nearly eight-tenths behind.

Russell had already posted the fastest time in the third practice session with a significant margin and repeated his performance in qualifying, claiming the eighth pole of his career. The Briton praised the team’s performance and expressed excitement for the race:

"It was a very good day, a perfect way to start. The car was very good, and the team worked extremely well. These new cars are not easy to drive, but I’m looking forward to tomorrow as there should be a good fight," Russell said.

After promising practice sessions on Friday, Mercedes appears almost untouchable for the season-opening race, though the complex start procedure could create surprises. Russell tempered expectations:

"Everything is complicated. We don’t know what will happen; these new cars make everything more complex. We hope for a good start and to avoid problems. Starting well here doesn’t guarantee anything, and starting badly doesn’t either. These cars should improve a lot over the season."

Antonelli faced a roller-coaster day, crashing at the end of the third practice session but recovering to deliver an impressive qualifying performance after a rapid repair. He credited the mechanics for their work:

"The day was very stressful. The heroes of the day are the mechanics who rebuilt the car incredibly. At one point, we thought the car wouldn’t be ready in time. Finally, I could go out at the end of Q1, but the car wasn’t fully set," explained the young Italian.

Behind Mercedes, Red Bull secured third place, but not with the expected driver. George Russell had an early exit from Q1 after a mistake and will start from the pit lane, aiming for another spectacular comeback.

Hadjar shone in his first qualifying session with Red Bull, earning the best result of his young career. The ambitious Parisian shared mixed feelings:

"I’m happy with myself, but it’s frustrating to see guys ahead I could beat. But I did my job," he told AFP. He hopes to defend his position during the race, acknowledging Mercedes’ superior pace.

Charles Leclerc of Ferrari secured fourth place, showing Scuderia’s competitiveness, while teammate Lewis Hamilton qualified seventh, behind local hero Oscar Piastri and defending champion Lando Norris.

Other French drivers Esteban Ocon (Haas) and Pierre Gasly (Alpine) will start 13th and 14th, respectively. Sunday’s race promises to test Mercedes’ advantage and the skill of emerging drivers like Hadjar and Antonelli.